A challenging summer for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau personally, as he and his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau announced they would be separating, is also becoming a challenging summer politically.
A new study from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds Trudeau’s Liberal Party behind the Conservative Party of Canada among decided and leaning Canadian voters.
Currently, 38 per cent say they would support the CPC led by Pierre Poilievre. The opposition party’s lead is seen in nearly every region of the country, except in Quebec, where the Liberals edge the second-place Bloc Québécois, and Atlantic Canada.
Rampant concerns about the cost of living and housing affordability likely loom much larger in Canadians’ lives than the prime minister’s personal life — or his movie choices. But even as the CPC harvests gains from Canadians’ pocketbook pain, Poilievre continues to struggle to resonate personally. Just 36 per cent of Canadians view the opposition leader favourably compared to 39 per cent who approve of Trudeau. Meanwhile, Half (52%) view Poilievre unfavourably.
More than two-in-five (44%) of women approve of Trudeau while half (50%) disapprove. Trudeau enjoys a notable nine-point jump in approval among 18- to 34-year-old women compared to June, from 36 to 45 per cent. Among men, 34 per cent approve while 64 per cent disapprove.
The reverse is true for Poilievre, who holds a 44 per cent favourable versus a 50 per cent unfavourable rating among men. Among women, this rating is 28 per cent favourable and 55 per cent unfavourable.
Poilievre’s favourability has not changed in almost one year of tracking. In September 2022, right after he was first elected to lead the CPC, 35 per cent of Canadians viewed him favourably, while 51 per cent held unfavourable views. Now, those figures stand at 36 per cent and 52 per cent respectively.
